Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacorus)

Yellow Flag Iris grows in wet areas such as ditches, wetlands and around streams and ponds. It is an aggressive invader that forms dense thickets that prevent the growth of native plants. Infestations can impact amphibians, birds, and other wetland wildlife. Wetland plants are especially difficult to eradicate once established. Prevention is the only weapon we have in this fight!

HISTORY

Yellow Flag Iris originated in Europe, Western Asia, and Northwest Africa. It was introduced to North America in the early 1900s as an ornamental garden flower. It has since spread throughout Canada and the U.S. It can be found in several ponds and streams across Prince Edward Island.

IDENTIFICATION

Positively identifying Yellow Flag Iris can be difficult, especially when it is not in bloom. Here are some distinguishing features to look for:

Very robust iris, more so than native iris species

Leaves are sword-shaped, 0.5-1.5m long, 1-3cm wide, and have a raised ridge in the middle of the leaf

New from the PEIISC

The PEIISC is hosting its 3rd annual workshop on Friday, March 16 from 1-4 at the Farm Centre on University Avenue. Everyone from all walks of life, sectors and parts of the Island are encouraged to attend! The meeting will include an educational expo and presentation series, featuring a variety of Island groups and individuals […]

This weekly Wednesday post is from PEIISC member and Stewardship Coordinator at Island Nature Trust, Julie-Lynn Zahavich. This week, Julie-Lynn will share her experience with a common horticultural invasive, Creeping Bellflower. Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides) is an ornamental plant that was imported from Europe. It has heart-shaped leaves that grow around the base of the […]

This week’s post is by Beth Hoar, Chair of PEIISC and Parkland Conservationist for the City of Charlottetown. There are many reasons to value our urban forests. They provide economic, social and environmental benefits such as filtering pollutants from our air and water, preventing soil erosion and reducing storm water runoff, reducing the energy consumption […]

This week, Rosemary Curley, Biologist, President of Nature PEI and member of PEIISC, brings you some news on the Spiders of PEI project! The numbers of exotic spiders are now tabulated for Prince Edward Island. Fully 19 of 197 known species have arrived from elsewhere, and of this 9.6 %, seven of them like to […]